Two agriculture-based businesses have been recognized by the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce’s Achievement in Business Excellence (ABEX) Awards.
Mustard Capital Inc. received the export award and Richardson International Ltd. received the award for investment.
Mustard Capital, a mustard mill in Gravel-bourg, began operations in 2007 and exports to 15 countries. It is now targeting southeastern Asia and the Middle East.
“We’ve had a fairly quick and rapid introduction and fairly significant export market success,” said Tom Halpenny, chief executive officer of Mustard Capital.
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“We’re just very pleased to be recognized in this way, particularly coming from the province of Saskatchewan, which is so heavily export dominated in terms of its economy.”
Kristin McKee, communications co-ordinator at the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, said nominees for the export award are given points based on volume relative to size, access to and identification of new markets, long-term planning, and growth potential.
The submissions are evaluated by a third party, then by a selection committee made up of past chamber presidents and deans of business programs from the University of Regina, University of Saskatchewan, and SIAST.
The investment award is judged according to investments relative to sales, impact on sales and productivity, impact on employees, the investment plan, source of investment and its value.
Although Richardson International’s head office is located in Winnipeg, the company has invested $169 million in Saskatchewan in the past year.
Approximately $4 million was invested in grain handling facilities and $164 million went toward construction of a canola processing plant in Yorkton.
The plant is expected to be operational in the second quarter of 2010.
“Saskatchewan is a key component of our network,” said Jean-Marc Ruest, vice-president of corporate affairs with Richardson International.
“We’ve got the biggest number of our grain elevators and crop input centres in Saskatchewan. We have plans to continue improving those facilities and whenever there’s an opportunity to … do something in Saskatchewan we’ll certainly be keeping our eye on it.”
Recognition given
Both company officials credited their success to people who aren’t often recognized.
“It’s the support of all the people who provide logistics. They help get our product to market in a timely fashion, that help generate our success. Everything from trucking and local and international freight forwarders for containers,” said Halpenny.
Ruest credited producers.
“The only way that we’ve been able to invest as much as we have in Saskatchewan over the course of our history and more recently is because of the support that we have in Saskatchewan by Saskatchewan producers.
“They’re extremely loyal customers of ours and, you know, they’re the ones that invest in us, which then allows us to invest in the province.”
Other ABEX Award winnersinclude:
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The Service Award
– North Ridge Development Corp.
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The TIA New Saskatchewan Product Award
– Bio-Extraction Inc.
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The New Venture Award
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The Community Involvement Award
– Pic-Man Tattoos
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The Job Creation Award
– Point2 Technologies
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– Ground Effects Environmental
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The Marketing Award
– Saskatoon Motor Products
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The Health Innovation Award
– Tiny-EYE Therapy Services
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Business Leader of the Year
– Clay Dowling of Ghost Transportation Services
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Young Entrepreneur of the Year
– Danny Elder of OffAxis
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The Aboriginal Business Award
– Aboriginal Counseling Services
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The Training Excellence Award
– Alliance Energy Group of Companies
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Business of the Year
– North Ridge Development Corp.
The ABEX Awards were introduced in 1984 to recognize the achievements of Saskatchewan businesses.
